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Fiat "complimentary" maintenance program

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Re: Fiat "complimentary" maintenance program

I had a 1970 Fiat 124 Sports Coupe that I bought new. Great fun driving it. Handling and engine were superb. It had a 1600cc twin ohc engine that was brilliant except for one thing. The oil dipstick had a rubber grommet on it that absolutely had to be seated in the dipstick hole, which was cast in the block. I discovered that early on when some "dipstick" at the local filling station checked the oil for my wife and didn't seat the grommet. When she got home, I noticed that there was oil dripping and looked under the hood and found out what had happened. I told her to never let anyone check the oil but me. Unfortunately, 2 years later the same thing happened, but I didn't find out about it until I was driving on the Garden State Parkway at speed and blew a rod bearing. The side of the engine was covered in what should have been in the sump. Needless to say, I was not happy. :madder:
 
Re: Fiat "complimentary" maintenance program

:iagree: I have owned 2 124 coupes and 1 spyder. Great fun cars and mine were quite reliable except some of the electrics might have been Lucas. The '75 coupe had an unusual quirk though. About 1 time in 5 it would automatically self-start as soon as I turned the key from off to the on position. I guess it really wanted to go.
 
Re: Fiat "complimentary" maintenance program

Fiats back then had their quirks, no doubt. I remember learning the hard way that there was a Summer position and a Winter position for the top of the air cleaner in the 128. Driving on the freeway on a dark, cold, damp northern Ohio night the car kept losing power. Every time I slowed down and pulled off the road it was fine again......for about a mile each time. Finally I parked under a street light and popped the hood and noticed there was an arrow on the air cleaner top pointing to different positions. It was in Summer mode and needed to be twisted to Winter mode for pre-heated air into the carb. :wall:

Every one of those Fiats, even the lowly 128 wagon, was a driver's car. Quirks and all.
 
Re: Fiat "complimentary" maintenance program

I recall a Motor Trend, Road and Track, or some other rag review of some FIATsco years ago....they could not figure out the angle of the steering wheel. I was not at the correct angle to actually use it in "spirited" driving.
Then, one of the writers was in Italy, took a cab, and realized they drove the bottom of the wheel, which then made all sorts of sense.
 
Re: Fiat "complimentary" maintenance program

Definitely driver's car. But that's what makes cars fun.
 
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